Pandit Jasraj

Biography

Pandit Jasraj was born
on 28th January 1930 in Brahmin family in Hisar, Haryana. His father was Pandit Motiram who was a Hindustani Classical vocalist himself following the family tradition of Mewati Gharana Gaiki (style). Pandit Motiram died on the day when he was to be appointed as the state musician in the court of Osman Ali Khan in Hyderabad, by then Pandit Jasraj was only four years old.

Initially Pandit Jasraj was a tabla player but later was unhappy because in those days accompanying artists like sarangi and table players ware considered as a minor artist and so he decided not to cut his hair until he learned to sing to be a vocalist. And he finally cut his hair after his first performance of raag Kaunsi Kanada in AIR Radio.

In the year 1960 when Pandit Jasraj visited Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in hospital Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan said him to become his disciple, but Pandit Jasraj politely declined saying that he might not be able to accept Bade Ghulam Ali Khan’s offer because he was already a disciple of Pandit Maniram and wanted to follow the family tradition of Mewati Gharana.

Gharana:

Pandit Jasraj Ji belongs to Mewati Gharana.

Guru Guidance:

He received his vocal training of Mewati Gharana from his elder brother Pandit Maniram, and later from Maharaja Jaywant Singhji Waghela, and was also trained under Swami Vallabhdas of the Agra Gharana.

Pandit Jasraj Ji’s vocal range extends to three and a half octaves, has a very clear pronunciation and distinguishes soothing style of expressing emotion on notes which represents the gaiki (style) of the Mewati gharana.

He has also done widespread study and research in Haveli Sangeet in the guidance of Maharaj Shyam Manohar Goswami Baba to create several new and innovative compositions of bandish.

Pandit Jasraj Ji has also innovated a new form of Jugalbandi between a male and a female singer singing two different ragas at the same time with separate accompaniment instruments for both the singers and also both the singers sing in different scales where male singer takes female singers sacales swar Ma as his scales swar SA, This Jugalbandi was taken from ancient traditional system called moorchana. This innovative Jugalbandi was first presented in Pune and there the name for this Jugalbandi was coined as Jasrangi by the audience.

Pandit jasraj Ji organises a music festival every year in Hyderabad in the loving memory of his father Pandit Motiram and elder brother Pandit Maniram called as Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh. He was also recognized as a master of Bhairav Thaat Raagas and is also known for presenting a extensive varity of Rare Raaga such as Raag Gyankali, Raag Dhanashree, Raag Abiri Todi, Raag Patdeepki, Raag Devsakh, Gunji Kanada, Raag Charju Ki Malhar, Raag Bhavsakh and Raag Purba etc.

Teaching:

Pand Jasraj has also been a great guru by teaching thousands of students worldwide and has also always encouraged and promoted his disciples for their career.

Pandit Jasraj got married with Madhura daughter of film director V. Shantaram in the year 1962, they first met during the filming of film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje. They have a son sharangdev and daughter Durga.